Happy JP unhappy now

Happy JP unhappy now

Staff Correspondent

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday expressed doubts about the implementation of the proposed budget for 2014-15.
Giving the JP's formal reaction to the proposed budget at a press conference at his Banani office, Ershad said the budget is not highly ambitious, but too much of a dream as well.
However, on Thursday when the proposed budget was being placed in the Jatiya Sangsad, all the JP lawmakers, including Ershad and his wife opposition leader Raushan Ershad, were seen repeatedly thumping their desks to welcome the budgetary proposals.
At yesterday's briefing, the JP chief said, “There is no specific plan or direction on how the budget will be implemented.”
He added the finance minister had fixed the GDP target at 7.3 percent, but he said little about how to meet that target.
Referring to Muhith's Friday comments that the opposition was present this year when the budget was unveiled, no matter what kind of opposition it is, Ershad said, “We were saddened by his humiliating comments on the opposition.
“He should have welcomed us [for presence in parliament during the placing of the budget]. We condemn his comments.”
Asked if the opposition welcomed or rejected the budget, Ershad said: “We are neither welcoming the budget nor rejecting it. Our doubts will go away only after the implementation of the budget.”
About Raushan Ershad's absence at the briefing, Ershad, who is also a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “I am the party [Jatiya Party] chairman. I am expressing the reaction [to the proposed budget] on behalf of her [Raushan].”
He also said any target mentioned in the budget could not be achieved unless good governance and political stability prevailed in the country.
Replying to a query, the JP boss said there was no good governance and rule of law in the country at present. “And foreign investment will come down to zero if the situation goes like this,” he added.
Ershad also criticised the proposed budget for inadequate allocations for the education, agriculture and health sectors.